Monthly Archives: January 2015

Faith No More’s lead singer and so much more Mike Patton turns 47 today.
Here is an admittedly rehashed tribute:

((c) tatu43)

Mike and yours truly

Given that Mike is one of the most deified figures in rock music today I’ll eschew a lengthy career hagiography but here is our by now traditional tribute celebrating rock’s finest vocalist in video and in his own words.

On Faith No More 1.0:

“In Mr. Bungle, it’s more like a family thing, more like incest. It’s not such an employee kind of thing. In FNM, I kind of get the sense that it is more like five separate jobs that need to be done. There’s a ‘we’ in Mr. Bungle. In FNM there’s not really one collective ‘it’.”
Faces magazine 1990

“We just didn’t lie to each other. We were one of the few bands that told it as it was. If I was mad at Jim (Martin, former guitarist), I’d call him an asshole in front of everyone. If he was mad at us, he’d call us assholes. That’s just the way we were. We didn’t give the press a whole lot of angles, so maybe that’s why they all had to work on us. It was never what it was made out to be.”
Kerrang 1999

“I have almost completely great memories. It was a lot of fun and a great experience. But to be honest I don’t reflect that much. I still got too much to look forward to and I’m always working on something. I was pretty young so it was cool to be able to travel the world and discover.”Hobothrashcan 2007

“I think that too many people think too much about my lyrics. I am more a person who works with the sound of a word than with its meaning. Often I just choose the words because of the rhythm not because of the meaning.”
From old.fnm.com FAQ

On touring:
“Touring takes over your life. On the road, you have a lot of unsupervised time. There are perils: the drinking, the dope and the diseases, but we’ve done all right. We’re adults. We all live in a real sober fashion. Sure, there’s a toll taken by the physical exertion of playing music. We give up our bodies every night. But there’s no greater high than being on stage.”
San Francisco Chronicle 1995

On the rock n’ roll lifestyle:
[The infamous hairdryer quote]
When I was staying in a hotel room once, I took a shit, rolled it into a ball and put it in the hair dryer so that the next guest to dry their hair would get hot shit in their face. Ain’t that rock n’ roll? I do hope rock stars are a dying breed. People love to lap them up — you know how something always tastes better if you swallow it quickly.’
(The quote is sourced from a lengthy interview on Stefan Negele’s gig database and was by Amy Raphael but I have no information on which publication except that it was probably UK-based)

“I talk so much about masturbation in interviews because I go on the defensive as soon as journalists start asking about groupies. It’s much easier relating to yourself on tour than it is to someone you’ve just met. Maybe I should say I’ve grown beyond it and now I’m into farm animals. Too many journalists still believe the rock n’roll myth. From my side it’s definitely not like that. A lot of bands are doing it, but they must have had insecure childhoods — maybe their parents dropped them on their heads.”
From the same interview.

On groupies:
“All these girls screaming and wanting to sleep with me, it’s go nothing to do with sex. It’s like vampirism. I’m their transfusion. It’s not erotic or sexual, it’s cartoonish.”
Spin magazine 1990

On fame:
“I’m uncomfortable with being a pop star. When you walk down the street and people yell at you and try to grab your hair, it’s not natural. We were doing an in-store appearance and someone grabbed my hat right off my head. That’s not right. You don’t do that to someone walking down the street, so why do that to me? And I lost it. Threw hot coffee in his face. He gave me my hat back.”
Same interview

On writing an autobiography:
“I’ve got nothing to say. I do my talking with the music. I’m really not even a very good interview. I don’t enjoy talking about myself very much. If someone wanted to write something, that is fine. But I would kindly ask them to leave me out of it.”Awesome Movieweb interview from 2007

On his Ipecac record label:
“I wanted to have more control and say over my own records plus I knew so many bands that needed an honest label. My manager Greg and I did it in 1999 as a way to release Fantômas, Maldoror and the Melvins. We did not expect it to turn into a real label. It has been a lot of work but very rewarding.”Blogcritics 2006

On his prolific input:
“It is not about success or failure. It is what I do. I’m a musician. I love creating music and my tastes vary. Why limit oneself as an artist. That would be like painting the same kind of painting everytime or making the same kind of movie. I like to work and challenge myself. I’ll slow down someday, I’m sure.”
Same interview

On his friendship with Danny de Vito:
“Danny is great. He is a multi talented renegade artist who is completely immersed in everything he does. He is also a great father. We met at a Fantômas show at Coachella. His son turned him on to my music. We instantly bonded. Nothing very funny.

It was cool that he was watching our set while all these celebrities were at the other side of the festival watching Coldplay. We had drinks and kidnapped him into our trailer. I think people think it is funny that we are friends. But it makes perfect sense to me. Much respect to brother D!”
Same interview

On a FNM reunion (in 2008):
“There’s some guys in the band who would love to do that and then there’s me. Everyone understands where I’m coming from and generally I think they agree. But every 3-4-5 years some brain surgeon in Scotland has an idea, some Svengali who thinks he can change the world, comes with a briefcase full of cash and makes a crazy offer. And it’s not easy to go, ‘eh, fuck it.’ It would be very easy for some of us to rehearse for a couple of days, smile and cash the check. I’m not at that point. I got enough things to worry about, enough problems and enough things on my plate. Maybe if he comes with two briefcases full of money… (laughs)”Stereo Warning

On the reunion in 2009:
“There was an offer for some shows in Europe. I thought it was a good moment and ended up agreeing. In the first rehearsal, I was late and I didn’t manage to enter the studio. I sat outside on the floor and listened to the band playing. The sound was very good, I felt I would be comfortable singing those songs again. And now we are here. We already played about 40 shows, and we are all happy.”
O Globo (2009)

On scoring films/movies and the future:
“It’s a new challenge and something that’s been a part of my musical language for a while, so I think that I can handle it. Again, it’s all about finding a director who might want to take a chance on someone like me, and those are pretty few and far between. So far what little scoring work I’ve gotten has been through friends. And that’s wonderful because so far I’ve been able to do exactly what I’ve wanted. Who knows where it’ll lead? But it is definitely something that I’d like to do more of. I’m getting up there. I’m, like, 40 now, and I definitely see a light at the end of my touring tunnel, so to speak. And right now, my livelihood is kind of going out and playing a show in Serbia or playing a festival in Amsterdam—I’m going in a couple days. So, looking in the crystal ball, film’s going to be a really nice way of getting to stay at home a little more and still be very creative and busy.”The AV Club 2008

On a new record:
“We haven’t discarded that completely, but we are not thinking about composing. We don’t want to be like those bands that stay years apart, then return and release a horrible record.”
O Globo 2009

On FNM future:
We are not Starbuck’s, that are in every corner. If you want to see us, it is better go this time, because we don’t know if there will be another one, certainly not in another 10 years. So far we have shows booked until February, and maybe that will be it. The curious fact is that we didn’t have many offers to play in the USA.
O Globo 2009

Here goes for Part 2 of our Mike Patton tribute.

Very early Mr. Bungle (1985)

Earliest online video of Mike performing with Faith No More (March 1989)

A quick summary of what we quickly posted yesterday evening while dodging baby vomit.

1 Faith No More will release a limited-edition new single Superhero on 17 March. A digital release will follow on 31 March. No info yet on b-side or where the physical single will be released but we’ll let you know as soon as we do.

3 Faith No More will play 15 concerts in 12 cities in their US and Canada tour in April and May. The tour is their first prolonged North America jaunt since 1997.
the ticket pre-sale begins on Wednesday 28 January and the band will communicate the passwords etc on facebook.com/officialfnm and twitter.com/faithnomore.

4 Tickets will be on sale via Live Nation which is already carrying the concert listings.

5 The as-yet-untitled new album will now come out in May rather than in April as previously stated. The release states: “The as-of-yet untitled album is due this May via the band’s newly formed imprint, Reclamation Recordings, which is distributed by Ipecac Recordings. Faith No More founder and bass player, Bill Gould is overseeing production.

6 So fans will most likely here the band’s other new music (apart from the previously played Motherfucker, Superhero and Matador) at the February and March Japan, Australia and New Zealand shows but also on the US tour. Here’s Bill in the release: “We are armed with the new material and ready for whatever comes our way.”

7 The album is currently being mixed. Via Bill on Twitter:

Happy to finally be playing more shows in the States! In the middle of mixing right now…we’re happy.

8 Faith No More will be playing the legendary PinkPop festival in the Netherlands on 12 June. The organisers have only announced Pharrell Williams (and his brother Robbie and his fellow Stokonian Slash and Muse and Rise Against) as a headliner so far but FNM fans will be happy that the band are returning to the festival they previously played in 1995.Pinkpopare due to announce their full lineup on 28 February.

9 The band have another new promo shot. Gone are the priest outfits and the tux and this time the guys so casual. What is Mike P looking at out of shot?

We’re back after a brief break for the arrival of baby girl 2.0. We’ve already posted a few standalone updates earlier and here’s a round-up less than a month away from Faith No More’s live return.

• Another European festival announcement this week with the band confirmed for Sonisphere Italy in Milan on Tuesday 2 June. Metallica will also play the festival at the Arena Rho Fiera.

• FNM blogger extraordinaire Jim Brown is going solo. He’s still a Leader of Men to us but his new venture is called Faith No More Followers. Check out the blog and Facebook page.
Good luck Jim – and continued success to the FNM blog team too.

• Faith No More’s stage times for Soundwave have been finally confirmed.

• Was a pleasure to hear Motherfucker on Swiss station Couleur 3 again this morning. Listen from 2.20.40 here and for francophones, the subsequent tongue-in-cheek discussion of the literal translation of the title is very funny.

As we reported over a month ago, Faith No More will play Canada’s Heavy Montreal festival in August 2015.
The announcement today from the festival organisers marks a symbolic return to the continent’s festival circuit for the reunited and rejuvenated band.
The event takes place on 7-9 August at Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal, Quebec.

Faith No More feature in a lot of “most anticipated albums of 2015” lists. Here’s a quick summary of what the critics expect:

In the illustrious company of Kid Rock among others, Faith No More are on Yahoo’s list of 10 albums to look out for. They say: ” Fans have been eagerly anticipating a new Faith No More album since the group reunited in 2009 to start touring again. So far, they’ve released one song, “Motherf—er,” an odd number that sounds vaguely like a cross between early Flaming Lips, Butthole Surfers, and Puscifer.”

Rolling Stone include Faith No More at number 40 in their chronological 68 Reasons This Year Will Rule. The rock bible states: “The as-yet-untitled collection, which arrives in April via the group’s own Reclamation label, reportedly bears the influence of the Cramps, Link Wray, Siouxsie and the Banshees and, possibly, Balkan saxophone king Ferus Mustafov. Which all bodes well, as does its first single, the sarcastic, hard-stomping “Motherfucker.”

Meanwhile, HitFix state: “The as-yet-titled set will be released through Faith No More’s own label Reclamation Recordings and is preceded by the single “Motherf*cker.” Take that for a comeback.”

The band get labelled a “budding heritage act” by the Sydney Morning Herald but fellow Australians Triple Jinclude FNM in their top 20 list and state: “The first we’ve heard of the rock veterans’ first new music in 17 years has been the swampy, sweary ‘Motherf***er’, which only served to remind us how beautifully strange and creatively heavy they can be”. More antipodean love too from Tone Deaf, who have the band alongside Tame Impala and Napalm Death in their list: “An epidemic of cardiac arrests ensued when they unveiled their first single in nearly two decades, Motherfucker. That’s a lot of pressure to live up to, but if anyone can, it’s the twisted minds behinds some of the most unique and treasured metal records ever made. We’re ready to laugh, we’re ready to cry, we’re ready to cower, and we’re ready to bang our heads once again, all before the opening track is through”. And Aussie site Faster Louderalso has the band in its list.

Consequence of Sound also have the album in their 50-strong list, declaring that “vicious sound and snarling wolf cover for new single “Motherfucker” announced the Bay Area five-piece’s return to the studio in properly intense fashion”. Stereogum, meanwhile, put the band at 33 in their list of 101 albums for 2015.

French site Musique Mag also have FNM have one of their picks but keep to the factual in their summary.

Gibson also include the untitled FNM record in their top 5 stating: “The upcoming, as-yet-untitled studio album will be the band’s first since 1997, so it’s pretty impossible to figure out what to expect from the new tunes. That makes the anticipation even more intense. Can’t. Wait”. From the ultimate guitar to Ultimate Guitar and the rock mag have Faith No More at 15 in their list of 15.

Benrun { Looking forward to Dead Cross, Primitive Race, new Imperial Teen, the next Como Asesinar y Felipes record Billy is producing. I'm still enjoying listening to the WCAL reissue...but man, I could really go for an official live release or something about now. } – Jan 14, 9:04 PM

Benrun { Awesome Bobby! I got a cheap model for my birthday back in October....but it sounds good with headphones, doesn't transfer digitally all that well. I listed to the Imperial Teen Ivanka single from 1998 before they re-recorded it for the "On" album. I like the original version a lot, plus I hadn't heard the B-Side "Sweet and Touching" since 1998 when I moved out of my parent's house and didn't have access to a record player anymore. I love that song! I love vinyl, but I also love a digital copy of all the songs. I also listened to my... } – Dec 31, 1:15 AM

Benrun { So in his interview, Chuck talks about plans to move to England so that his life partner and mother of his children can be around her family. I was hoping to talk him out of this....I live in Ohio and I haven't gotten to see him live yet! Now....I kind of wish I was heading out of the USA too. But I can't leave now, I have too much work to do. I'm a white, straight, middle class, American man. I feel the need to help my documented and undocumented countrymen and women who don't look like me or love... } – Nov 09, 7:17 PM

EF { It is very slow times. I'm a little curious as to what's going on with the guys. Are we to expect news out of nowhere for a new album...or is the group about to, to quote Mike Tyson, "fade into Bolivia"? I'm not sure how busy the guys are and where FNM falls in their priority list, but I'd love to think....maybe....2017? } – Nov 17, 2:59 PM

Todd { Benrun, thanks for your reply. I figured someone on here might know what I am getting at. With Roddy, he strikes me as the very personable, outgoing introvert. He is usually soft-spoken. Yes, he is strong in his convictions. But he also seems to be really loose and playful. Just check out his dance moves on stage! And yeah, Gould is the mastermind. Highly structured, organized, conceptual, with strong command of highly technical details. I've read interviews with him in which he goes off on all the technical equipment and processes he uses and this kind of information just seems... } – Oct 19, 3:45 AM

Benrun { I took a personality test myself just now...and I am the same as Bill, INTJ! I find that interesting in the sense that while I am a Roddy side project fan and Patton side project fan, it is Bill and his bass, lyrics, and songwriting that speaks to me so personally that I became an obsessive FNM fan, but also love everything musical that Bill touches....Harmful, the Rebirth EP, Fugly, Talking Book, Hayduk, even the music he just points out the direction towards. I think I had 3/5 of the same favorite Bowie songs as him too. I've never been... } – Oct 19, 3:20 AM

Benrun { I studied psychology back in the day, but I don't speak that language anymore. I had to look those up...I think you nailed Patton, Gould, Puffy, and Hudson. Roddy could be several possibilities for me...definitely ISFP, but also ESFJ, ENFP, or even ENTP. As much as Jon is the quiet man, Roddy is maybe the most difficult to pin down. He's absolutely a really kind person, but he also doesn't take anyone's shit. Ever. Plus he's creative and takes some pretty creative risks (ie: Sasquatch the Opera). Thanks, this was a fun topic! } – Oct 19, 2:39 AM

Benrun { Yeah, it's hard to pick any video other than Last Cup of Sorrow as their best video. It is easily the best, while From Out of Nowhere is easily the worst! } – Oct 08, 1:15 PM

Bobby B Better { I've always been a big fan of the last cup of sorrow video too. The band hasn't been in their last 4 videos starting with I started a joke...hopefully next time. } – Oct 08, 5:48 AM

Bobby B Better { Actually, I take it back...Separation Anxiety is completely and totally awesome. I just watched CoS & SA back to back. CoS is really good but SA is something else. } – Oct 08, 5:43 AM

ty { this no show from the band wont cut it. its obvious Billy is willing to do everything for the promotion of the record but others don't seem to be as involved unfortunately. the song doesn't fit the clip at all but it looks good and seedy to fit the mood of the song. interesting that the band decided to promote the record 12 months after the Sunny Side Up single and the Seperation Anxiety videos. and also, this is an E.P? if theres unreleased songs on it then what a shame it wont be released on cd! } – Oct 01, 4:24 AM

Benrun { I'm not sure why mobile wouldn't show it, but just follow that link I posted. Also, here's a really good interview with Bill, Roddy, and Puffy (together! - and good things happen when the 3 of them are spending time together - it doesn't happen a ton since Roddy lives in NYC): https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/faith-no-more-cares-a-lot } – Sep 27, 3:20 PM

Benrun { Actually, the cover looks like the band's dog Henry in an Elizabethan collar (cone of shame). I'm not sure who owns Henry the pug?? Is it Patton? Roddy? } – Sep 27, 2:47 AM

Benrun { I saw Nov 25th on the amazon search that you recommended. If you click on the individual formats, the Nov 25th line does not appear, but it does on the broad search: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/160-7954925-9272251?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=faith+no+more+cone+of+shame There is even a cover for the record now! } – Sep 27, 2:45 AM

Benrun { I don't think anything good was added to this song. The trouble with FNM covers seems to be that no one ever captures the feel or intent of the song. WCAL is a punk, snarky F U song. This just sounds too serious and angry. The only FNM covers I've liked have been total re-interpretations, like Race to Space doing Stripsearch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dToGw9YAauM or The Sparteens doing Digging The Grave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GmvHcQ1YLg } – Sep 21, 2:03 PM

Bobby B Better { The come of shame teaser really looks to me like an album cover (single)...my guess is a record store day release } – Sep 17, 4:12 AM

Bobby B Better { Yeah, I keep thinking about the remasters. I don't have any of those albums on vinyl, so I'm leaning toward that and going to itunes for the tracks I don't have on CD. } – Sep 17, 4:01 AM

benrun { yes very few of us left it seems.I don't know what the cone of shame teaser means but I am really excited.I broke down and bought p rhino reissue anywaybut they have not arrived yet.so far from samples I do not hear a sound quality improvement, not that it was really necessary though } – Sep 16, 12:35 PM

Bobby B Better { I don't do Facebook so I shall share my excitement here...CONE OF SHAME!!??!! Benrun, I'm not sure if it's just you me and admin anymore...no one else seems to comment lately...but if so at least we have each other. I'm guessing a lot read but don't comment...what do the stats look like lately Admin? } – Sep 16, 4:48 AM